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Catechists
In Formation
Introduction to Catechetical Methods:
Book Two
Peter Ries
Consultant: David Riley
Benziger Publishing, 1995
Retail Price: $14.91
www.benziger.glencoe.com
Contains twelve chapters of 16 pages each:
- Understanding the Theological Process
- Understanding the Bible
- Reading the Bible
- Using the Bible
- Jesus and Discipleship
- The Meaning of Church
- Sacrament
- Preparing for Public Worship
- People of Prayer
- Christian Morality and Catechesis
- Justice
- A Christian Perspective on Creation
Note: A Program Manual is available. It contains lesson
plans, resources and ideas on how to use Catechists in Formation
in a parish or school setting.
Book
Review
One of the first duties that fell in my lap upon becoming Diocesan Director
of Religious Education was deciding a new catechetical formation program.
I had an excellent list of "don'ts" from our parish directors
about our formation program options:
- Don't let it be expensive.
- Don't have it "above everybody's heads."
- Don't make it inflexible.
- Don't make it videos, because we always lose them.
- Don't make it fit only the big metro parishes.
Given the mandate from the General Directory for Catechesis,
"Consequently, diocesan pastoral programs must give absolute priority
to the formation of lay catechists (234)," the task of our Religious
Education Commission was clear: catechetical formation was "job
one." I would have quit except for one thing: the Catechists
in Formation program by Peter Ries and David Riley from Benziger
Publishing Company. In three texts, of which the catechist only needed
two, were the answer to all the questions and challenges put forth by
our parish leadership. This is not to say that other programs are not
excellent; there are a number of wonderful, supportive materials that
aid us in the mission of teaching the "Profession of Faith in One
God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit" and "Communion with Jesus
Christ." But... As we reviewed our options, the "don't"
list kept haunting the commission. Ignoring the years of experience
from our parish leadership would be, at best, ignorant. In my view,
number five, "Don't make it fit only the big metro parishes,"
was the most important point.
The Diocese of Salt Lake City encompasses the state of Utah. It is an
enormous geographic area. At 75 miles per hour, some of our parishes
lie five hours from the Pastoral Center. Bringing in a guest speaker
or hosting workshops every Saturday will simply not work for many of
the parishes in the outlying deaneries. We needed something that could
be done at the diocesan level, the deanery level, the parish level and
the home, if need be.
Catechists in Formation answered these diverse needs. Yet,
we soon found that it was not only excellent in terms of answering our
geographic and economic needs, the program also supported an outstanding
methodological system of providing both informational and formational
opportunities for our catechists. Each session includes the roots of
the catechetical method:
- Tell a story
- Show a picture
- Ask questions
- Share in prayer
Yet, there was much more. Faith Development materials
are not only given in a broad setting, but catechists discover methods
of addressing their particular grades or groups. Each session allows
catechists to discuss and discover new and deeper meanings to the readings
and class work. Information is repeated in several different ways each
session and reinforced during group and individual work. Clearly, the
package works.
Clearly, I have become a big fan of Catechists in Formation.
It provides an inexpensive, site-based program that develops the catechists
with both information and formation. It is, by far, the most flexible
program one could hope for in catechetical ministry.
We soon found the need to supplement this program. For example, we put
together a simple "Catechesis Made Simple" program for substitutes
and first year teachers, as well as schoolteachers who are asked to
teach religion for the first time. This program involves a look at the
catechetical teaching model, an introduction to faith development, and
a look at a model of theology. Yet, the Catechists in Formation
program continues to provide diverse parishes with a core of materials
that continues to develop and prepare people for the catechetical mission.
Daniel John
Director of Religious Education
Diocese of Salt Lake City, UT.
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